Cardinals' Arenado 'ready to go play ball' after tumultuous offseason

St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado is turning the corner after an eventful offseason full of trade rumors.

"You know, obviously, there has been a lot going on this offseason," he said, according to Jim Hayes of FanDuel Sports Network. "There was a lot of truths out there, there was some lies out there, (but) I try not to get caught up into it too much.

"I really focus on just getting ready for the season, and that's about it. ... There was always a possibility of me getting traded, there was a possibility of me coming back - I'm back and I'm ready to go play ball."

The Cardinals spent much of the offseason trying to facilitate a suitable trade for the eight-time All-Star, who reportedly had a list of five teams for which he'd waive his no-trade clause to complete a deal.

The Boston Red Sox were among Arenado's preferred destinations, but they signed Alex Bregman rather than working out a trade. He vetoed a move to the Houston Astros earlier in the offseason.

Sticking around for a retool in St. Louis isn't the 33-year-old's first choice, but he understands why it is happening.

"Do I wish the direction (of the team) was 'all-in?'" he said. "Of course, but is this what is probably best for the Cardinals? Probably."

Arenado will enter 2025 looking to rebound from arguably the worst offensive season of his career. He posted a .719 OPS (101 OPS+) just two years removed from being an NL MVP finalist.

The 10-time Gold Glove winner is owed $74 million through 2027, $10 million of which is being paid by the Colorado Rockies.